This Week: August 19th thru August 25th

** Upcoming Events:

** Action Steps of Courage from the Book of Mark

Step 1: Prayer (Mark 9) – We are able to hear God communicate to us through Jesus, his word, and each other, and we respond with our own attention to the presence of God. Prayer is where our courage begins.

Step 2: Surrender (Mark 10) – We surrender to him as Lord, turning over our time, talents, resources, and anything that stands in the way of his reign in our lives.

Step 3: Persistence (Mark 5) – People with courageous faith don’t give up. When all hope seems lost, a synagogue ruler, a Gentile woman, and a bleeding woman do whatever it takes to find Jesus and trust in him.
 
Step 4: Belief (Mark 5,9) – Because unbelief is such a barrier to courageous faith, we keep on believing through our times of doubt.

** Each Month of 2024 we are going to have a Christian principle that we will focus on. Christian Principle for August - Forgiveness - “Decide that someone who has wronged you doesn’t have to pay.” Jesus and the return of the prodigal son: (Luke 15:11-31

**Grief Share Group - This will be a monthly group that will meet on the 2nd Monday of the month. Our next meeting will take place on 8/12/24 at 7:00 in DeGraff. This is not a study, or a book, this is more of a support group. Pastor Mike is not a licensed counselor, but will be leading through questions and expressing our grief and walking along this path together. To carpool from Maplewood, meet at Maplewood by 6:30. 

** AWAKEN is an event designed to equip you as a spiritual leader in your church and community.  This lay-center, worship-filled event is an excellent experience for you if you feel God working in your life and you want to be “all in.” Join us in Marysville, OH Sep 6-7 (Friday evening and all day Saturday) to learn how you can love and serve God more fully  Read more and register: https://alleghenywestgmc.org/awaken/

** The new website and email are active and are the new contact locations for all things Cornerstone Fellowship of DeGraff. https://www.cornerstonedegraff.org/ is online but still a work in progress. You are hopefully using the new [email protected] for the church email.

** There are positions available within the church for you to get involved and belong to this body of believers. Be prayerful over the possibilities that God is desiring to use you. 
- Administrative Council chairperson - in transition
- Meeting Secretary - in transition
- Nominations volunteer - 1 spot still open
- We are also looking for a Lay Leader for the church!
There are many more ways in which you can get involved. Reach out to Pastor Mike with the ways in which God is calling you to be active!

The active Facebook page is found at: https://www.facebook.com/CornerstoneDeGraff
The active YouTube channel is found at: https://youtube.com/@CornerstoneFellowshipDeGraff

** Cornerstone Fellowship of DeGraff is a Global Methodist Church, and we are in the Allegheny West Conference and you can visit their site at https://alleghenywestgmc.org/ if you are wanting more information!  All the videos from the Annual Conference are now posted on their website!

** G.R.A.C.E. notes for this week.

G.R.A.C.E. volunteers,

Lunch in the park should be done for the summer. Stay tuned for backpack packing dates and times!

Thank you!

** Light Hours has been a great resource for our college age young people. If you are a college age person and would like a Bible study for your age group, let me know. We can get something started that fits your schedules!

** Our Cornerstone Women's group is planning to meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month. The next meeting will take place on September 9th at 6:00 pm. 

** Our Cornerstone Men's group will be taking a break for summer. There are men looking to hold a Bible Study still, so reach out and see where you fit in!

** 5th Quarter is starting up with the beginning of High School football season this week! We will be hosting Aug. 23rd, Sept. 6th, Sept. 27th, Oct. 4th, and Oct. 18th! Volunteers are needed and appreciated!!See Janet Siders if you are interested. 

** Looking for people to join a new small group. This group will meet once a month and will tackle a tough topic that takes some reflection. Think of it as a Bible study, but a little deeper! Want to go deeper? Let us know!

**Missions Moment - What an amazing time with the Free Sale this year. Great big "thank you" to Sue Walls for always graciously organizing things and making things move. We had over 197 people come through the doors and served over 200 hot dogs!! Most importantly, God was present!!

** If you would like to purchase a Cornerstone Fellowship of DeGraff shirt you can follow this link and purchase your Cornerstone Fellowship swag! -  https://exodus-shirt-company.myshopify.com/collections/cornerstone-fellowship-of-degraff

** We are now collecting mac-n-cheese (mix or single serving) for the Five Loaves Food Pantry. We need 55 by Sep. 15th. They give out meals and food boxes Wed. Sep. 18th at 4:30 pm. If you would like to help carry boxes!

This Week at the Church: - August 19th - August 25th

Monday: Church Open 10-12 
 
Tuesday: Church Open 10-12 

Wednesday: Bible Study - at 10:00 am / Praise Practice 6 / Choir Practice 6:30 / Pastor Mike’s Quick Shots - Facebook and YouTube 8:00 pm

Thursday: Church Open 10-12 / Senior Lunch 11:00

Friday:  Church Open 7-9 / AA Meeting at the church 8:00 - 9:00 pm / 5th Quarter 9:30 - 11:30

Next Sunday - August 25th - Steps of Faith - Perseverance - Luke 12: 35-48 · 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 · Psalm 15: 1-5 - Adult and Youth Sunday School 9:30 / Worship 10:30

Two years ago we were On Mission! Worship - Reflect - Pray - Study - Serve - you can still use these methods! In 2023 we used the 5-S Method of Being The Church - Surrender - Surrounded - Spirit-Led - Self-Fed - Sent - We can still use the tools that we have been given to make sure that we have a fruitful relationship with God!

Please pray this week for those who are sick and need healing, and those who you can share the love of Christ with! Do not forget to pray for your church, your community, and your pastor.